CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City Council met Thursday to review the 2025-26 fiscal year budget. However, an hour before the special session began, the Clarksville Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 3180) held a rally on Public Square outside Council Chambers to push for a pay increase for city firefighters.
Among those speaking up were firefighters, veterans, educators, as well as the daughter of a firefighter. As each of the speakers explained why change needs to occur, several community members lined up to see what was going on. Several joined the cause and received signs that read “Don’t Burn Your Fire Fighters” or “Living Wage Now.”
Jesse Snyder, the president of 3180 Clarksville Fire Fighters Association, said they are asking for an immediate base-salary increase across the firefighter ranks to bring Clarksville Fire Rescue wages closer to regional and national averages. “And to provide a living wage so our firefighters can live and serve in the city they live in,” Snyder said. “Also, we’d like to see a structured step pay plan, that way we know where they’re going to be at in the future.
“We’ve lost some young guys the past couple of years who have gone on to make more money for different departments, and some of them have gone into completely different career paths altogether, just because they couldn’t survive on what they were making. We’re just trying to bring awareness and build a relationship with the council and the mayor and make them aware of what’s going on and what we need.”
Pay scale comparison
Firefighter Owen James broke down the difference in base salary for firefighters in Clarksville compared to what firefighters are making in surrounding communities. This included Murfreesboro, Dickson, Franklin, Goodlettsville, Brentwood, Hendersonville and Germantown…